Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-09-30
and she was rs pretty and as fresh as a


radshes, and claret which l brought
with me in a long bottle. Those were
delicious feasts. They were sweetened
and favored by love. She did not
know that was a rich man. She did
not care whether | was rich or poor.
Neither of US looked far into the
future. We were young, and the pres
ent sufliced us. Whether we whisper
ed together in the little garrett or went
arm in arm to see play; whether we
walked through the gas-lt streets. or
wandered on some summer holiday out
into the pleasant country-places-we
were as happy as the day was long.
Meanwhile. Mile. Moran gave me her
polite attention when we met, and
made no objection whatever to our
parents plans.
Loving Airline as did, was still a
coward You who have known me in
battle will perhaps think belle myself,
but at one. and-twenty l was moral
coward. l despise myself as | write.
but have prom sed to tell the truth. /
allowed matters to proc eed without
interruption. until ut last / was form
ally aflianced to Mile. Moran. l
signed the marriage contract with my
own hand, then felt that could not
retrace my steps. Satan whispered in
my ear:
What does it matter? Marry the
lady. Your little shop girl does not
know anything about you. Keep your
fortune and your sweetheart also"
managed my little affair so as to
avoid suspicion On both sides. Reckless
of the wrong wac doing to two good
and pure young girls, noated down
the stream toward my wedding day.
But Satan always deserts his friends
NJ last A letter from my father. which
had recklessly carried about me, fell
from my pocket unseen by me one
night as parted from Airline.
She read it. Perhap. jealousy
prompted her; and she fancied that she
might have discovered y rivals billet
doux. At all events she read it, and
learned from IL all the truth. Charged
with it | could not DENY the facts.
could only VOW that loved her and
her alone. Poor child ! As she listened
saw all hope aud sweetness die out of
her face. White and despairing, with
her eyes dilating and her lips set hard,
she looked a, me and said nothing,
she drowned herse II in the Seine that
night, and when next | saw her it was
upon a marble slab in the Morgue, her
hands upon her breast, her hair falling
about her like black veil. my ring
upon her finger My friend, | did not
marry Mile. Moran. Remorse over
whelmed me at last. | confessed all TO
my father. broke my engagement and
leaving home and friends behind me.
enlisted in the army. | sought death.
Those who seek him he shuns | was
called a brave man Who that hated
/ life would not be brave When YOU
knew me wore the captains epaul-
cites.
/ | need not tell you of my soldier
I life or of the wounds by which | was
! invaded.
Hearing OF them. my father who
had al last forgiven me, bestowed upon
me his pardon and gave me this little
place At st. Sauveur Here | have
lived ever since, helpless. shattered
wreck. almost incapable of motion. 1t
/ is five years since | came here, and at
/ the end of the second began the incred-
ible part of my story.
My temper, as you know, was none
Of the best. and hated the sight Of man
at times Greatly as | needed IN. |
often drove my attached old soldier
servant from me, and, one day. when |
/ had done this, sat alone in my great
/ chair by the seward window of my
sleeping apartment, when very
strange thing happened to me. felt
n hand upon my head. 1t was wo-
mans hand, soft and warm and gentle.
1t trifled with my curls in fashion
that thrilled me with memories Of the
past
was not frightened. was simply
perplexed. | spoke. l said: "ls some
one near me whom do not sce?' but
there was no answer. Soon | fell as
leep, lulled rs babe M ght be by its
mothers caresses by that phantom
touch.
This happened more than once. Then
still stranger things occurred. became
aware that some ministering creature
was near me. Inanmate objects were
moved toward me at M need. without
any visible human agency.
Books were brought within my reach.
Flowers were plucked from the vines
without the door. A glass of NY wine
was poured out and set before me, and
after all these little Offices came soft
caresses. A kiss, touch Of hand